Dr. Don Edward Beck
Don Beck was named Outstanding Professor at the University of of North Texas in 1978; named an Honor Professor in 1979; and listed as an “Outstanding Educator in America” in 1980. Beck taught for 20 years at the University before resigning his professorship to work behind -the-scenes in the South African transformation. He made 62 trips to Johannesburg between 1981 and 2002, and had a significant impact on political leaders, the business sector, religious leadership , and the general public.
Dr. Beck was honored in 1996 by a joint resolution of the Texas House and Senate with the words: “The Texas House and Senate takes great pride in commending a truly remarkable Texan. Dr. Don Edward Beck, for his invaluable contributions toward the peaceful creation of democratic South Africa.” While much of Beck’s work is in the area of large scale systems change, he has also been active in working with corporate leaders, public institutions, education enterprises, and not-for-profit agencies in designing the work place for the 21st Century.
Spiral Dynamics concepts are being used in various contexts literally around the world. He was invited to 10 Downing Street to meet with members of the “policy unit” in a search for ways to implement “Third Way” initiatives in the UK and abroad. Beck has discussed racial issues with President Bill Clinton and deep reconciliations strategies with President Nelson Mandela. Beck is currently applying the lessons learned from South Africa within the Israeli-Palestine conflict as well as in the Netherlands, Russia, and India.
Graham Linscott
Graham Linscott is a writer based in the South African port city of Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. He has worked as a journalist in 11 countries in Africa, which included coverage of the revolutionary wars in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; a spell in the press gallery of the South African parliament; and many years as a syndicated columnist.
Linscott is the author of Uhuru and Renaissance: South Africa in a New Century (Tekweni Press, Durban, 2001). This analysis expanded and updated many of the findings and projections from The Crucible that was published a decade earlier in l991. He is well known in South African political circles for his many years of expert commentary of the developmental stages the entire society has experienced.
